Surgical management of acute type A aortic dissection associated with pregnancy

Abstract

Objective Acute type A aortic dissection associated pregnancy severely threatens the lives of both the mother and her ferus.We retrospectively reviewed our clinical experience with this life-threatening condition in six cases.Methods Between January 2007 and February 2012,6 women with acute type A aotic dissection associated pregnancy were treated by our group,with an average of 3 1 years (range 24 -37 weeks)and a mean gestation weeks of 24.5 (range,12 -38 weeks ).The etiology was Marfan syndrome in 4 cases and gestational hypertension in 2.The pathology was the modified Stanford type A3S in I case,A2C in 2 and A3C in 3.- Five patients were treated surgically and 1 medically.Surgical operations were performed under hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass or deep hypothermic circulatory arrest,including Bentall procedure in 1case,Bentall + Sun's procedure in 2,ascending aortic replacement + Sun's procedure in 2.Results The woman treated medically and her fetus died from aortic rupture 9 days after admission.The cardiopulmonary bypass and cross clamp time and circulatory arrest time averaged 167 rninites(range,75 -210 minites) and 98 minites(range,83 - 145 minites) and 23.5minites(range,19 -27 minutes),respectively.Five patients treaed surgically survived the operation.Three fetuses survived rand two fetuses died.After a mean follow-up of 2.2 years (range,1 - 3.5 years ),5 patients were doing well.CT angiogram detected nonmal aortic and valvular structures,with no signs of distal dilation.Three babies were normal in development and neurocognitive functios.Conclusion Palients with aortic dissection associated with pregnancy should be operated on ugently and medical treatment carries high risks of aortic rupture and maternal and fetal death.Methods of surgical repair,peffusion techniques and delivery should be chosen based on the underlying aortic pathology and gestational age,so as to maximize the safety of the mother and her baby. Key words: Pregnacy; Acute; Type A aortic dissection; Surgical management